Hydraulic pump with communicating vessels

ABSTRACT

The present invention concerns a pump that includes a drain path for a liquid and a drain unit configured to realize the suction of the liquid along the path. In accordance with the invention, the pump further comprises a containment chamber to contain the drained liquid, and one or more than one exiting conduits in fluid communication with the containment chamber. Moreover, one or more than one vertical conduits are provided that develop from the containment chamber upwards and in fluid communication with the containment chamber. In such a manner, the vertical conduits form with the exiting conduits, through the containment chamber, one or more than one vessels communicating one with the other in such a way that the liquid that is drained by the drain unit into the containment chamber re-ascends along the exiting conduits towards the level of liquid contained in the vertical conduits.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention concerns the technical field of hydraulic pumps.

In particular, the invention refers to an innovative hydraulic pump which, in an efficient and economical way, is able to carry a mass of liquid from an inferior level to a superior level.

BACKGROUND ART

Pumps of different nature have long been used, which are able to drain away water pushing it along a path by a duct. Such pumps can have multiple uses. For example, they are able to drain away water from flooded rooms or to carry water from a low level source towards a higher level point, thus overcoming the force of gravity due to the difference in height.

Such pumps, as it is well known, comprise an engine which is able to generate the thrust pressure which is responsible for the flow of water along its path. Nevertheless, it is also known that such pumps, on the basis of the flow of water and of the use to which they are destined, require engines of dimensions that range from reduced ones to significant ones. The engine each time consumes in proportion to its dimensions and the use time. It is therefore clear that, in the case in which, for example, it is necessary to make significant masses of water re-ascend along an important difference in height, the use of big pumps of high energetic consumption of the electric or combustible type is required.

Moreover, such pumps result to be of big dimensions and therefore particularly expensive and bulky.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is therefore the aim of the present invention to provide an innovative type of pump conceived in such a way as to resolve at least in part the above-mentioned inconveniences.

In particular, it is the aim of the present invention to provide a new type of pump which results to be particularly efficient, despite the reduced dimensions and the modest engine power used.

It is therefore the aim of the present invention to provide a new type of pump which is able to give a high thrust to the drained fluid in spite of the use of draining engines of modest dimensions and reduced consumption.

These and other aims are reached with the present pump in accordance with claim 1.

The pump (1), in accordance with the invention, is provided with one or more than one drain paths (2), for example pipes, so as to be able to drain away a liquid from a pre-determined collecting point to conduit it to another point placed at a certain distance and/or at a different level. To that aim, drain means (4) are comprised, which generate such a depression by which the liquid can re-ascend along the drain conduits (2).

In accordance with the invention, the pump further comprises a containment chamber (5), into which the liquid drained by the conduits (2) is collected, and on which one or more than one vertical conduits (10) stand vertically upwards in fluid communication with the containment chamber (5) itself. The chamber (5) comprises exiting conduits (9) so as to basically create an assembly of communicating vessels between the conduit (10) and the exiting conduits (9) themselves through the chamber (5).

In such a manner, when the pump drains away so as to fill the containment chamber (5), and once also the vertical conduit (10) is filled, a natural flow along the exiting conduits (9) initiates due to the communicating vessels principle. In particular, the water re-ascends along the exiting conduits (9) to reach again the level of the column of water contained in the conduit or conduits (10), thus going up from a low level (the level of the containment chamber 5) to a higher level on the basis of the height of the column 10.

In accordance with such a solution, by using a pump with a very small engine simply sufficient to fill and keep the level of the chamber 5 constant, it is possible to make great masses of water re-ascend to very high levels.

It is clear that such type of pump has a high efficiency and reduced consumptions, in contrast with the thrust capacity that it confers to the liquid.

Advantageously, the exiting conduits (9) are arranged in fluid communication with the containment chamber (5) in such a way as to rise upwards from the containment chamber itself. In such a manner, due to the communicating vessels principle, the liquid re-ascends from the containment chamber to a higher level through the exiting conduits (9).

Advantageously, in a possible embodiment, the exiting conduits (9) can comprise:

-   -   A first part (9) emerging upwards in a substantially parallel         manner to the vertical duct (10);     -   A second part (9′, 9″) descending vertically downwards;     -   A union U part interposed between first (9) and second part (9′,         9″).

Advantageously, the union U first part is arranged at a lower level with respect to the vertical conduit (10) or to the level of liquid foreseen in the conduit (10) in such a way that the liquid re-ascending the first part (9) has sufficient pressure to overcome the union to re-descend along the second part (9′, 9″).

Advantageously, the second part (9′, 9″) comprises a portion (9″) arranged at a lower level with respect to the containment chamber (5).

In such a manner, the outlet pressure is increased by such a further difference in height.

Advantageously, in a possible variant of the invention, the second descending part (9′) can comprise an opening (109) for putting in communication the said descending part with the atmospheric pressure P.

Advantageously, the said opening (109) can be covered with a portion of pipe.

Advantageously, the second descending part (9′) can further comprise, in combination with the said opening 109 or without the need of such an opening, a bifurcation (9″′) realized through an appendix (9″′) for drawing the water.

In such a manner, an increase in the flow is obtained because there is a further re-ascent, for example from the level of the source, which is activated with the communicating vessels principle.

Advantageously, the containment chamber (5) comprises a lateral wall (6), preferably cylindrical, a base (7) and an upper closure cover (8).

Advantageously, the exiting conduits (9) are connected at choice:

-   -   To the lateral wall (6);     -   To the base (7);     -   A part to the lateral wall and a part to the base (7).

Advantageously, the drain means comprise a draining engine (1), electric, for example.

It is also described here a system characterized in that it comprises one or more than one pumps (1) as described and one or more than one rotor electric generators (30) arranged in such a way that the drained water flux coming out from the pump (1) can strike the rotor.

Advantageously, the rotors are arranged at a lower level with respect to the pump, in particular with respect to the containment chamber 5 of the pump.

Advantageously, at least one of the said generators is electrically connected to the pump to feed it.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present pump, according to the invention, will be clearer with the description of one of its embodiments that follows, made to illustrate but not to limit, with reference to the annexed drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 schematically represents a section of the pump in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 represents an exploded axonometric view of the pump and an axonometric view with assembled components;

FIG. 3 represents a further overall axonometric view of the pump in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 4 represents a system comprising a pump in accordance with the invention and a plurality of electric generators combined with the pump.

DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIG. 1 the pump 1 is schematically described in section in accordance with the present invention.

The pump in question comprises one or more than one drain conduits 2, for example one or more than one rigid or flexible pipes 2, which can be conveyed in the desired point where the water (or any other type of liquid) to be drained away is. Just for clarification purposes, and therefore in a non-limiting manner for the present invention, FIG. 1 shows the water surface 3 and only one drain conduit 2 that re-ascends from the water surface. The opposite end of the drain conduit converges into the main body of the pump described below.

The main body of the pump comprises a containment chamber 5 into which the liquid drained from the pipe 2 is collected. Appropriate drain means 4 realize the re-ascending depression of the water and comprise an engine 4, always schematized in FIG. 1. The engine, for example of the electric or combustion type, is able to create a drain depression that causes the re-ascending of the liquid 3 along the conduit or conduits 2. Such engines are well known according to the background art and no further details of them will be given here since they are not the specific subject of the present invention.

In detail, as also shown in the axonometric view of FIG. 2, the containment chamber comprises a lateral wall 6, for example cylindrical, and a base 7 to which the drain pipe 2 and an upper closure cover 8 are connected. The lateral wall 6, the base 7 and the cover 8 together form the containment chamber 5. Always FIG. 2 shows both an exploded view of the disassembled engine from the containment chamber 5 and the engine connected to the containment chamber.

Going back to the section of FIG. 1, the pump comprises one or more than one vertical conduits 10 arranged in a predetermined position in correspondence of the upper cover 8. The conduit 10 therefore rises vertically upwards from the cover 8 and is in fluid communication with the internal chamber 5 in such a way that a liquid contained within the conduit falls in the chamber or, vice versa, when the internal chamber 5 is full the liquid in excess it can re-ascend along the vertical conduit 10.

The vertical conduit 10 can have variable heights and diameters on the basis of the need, as better described afterwards in the part of the functioning.

Always to the main body, or in correspondence of the cylindrical lateral wall 6, one or more than one exiting conduits 9 are connected, for example of the flexible type. As shown in FIG. 1, such conduits can also be connected in correspondence of the base 7 and anyway in any position such as to put them in fluid communication directly with the internal chamber 5. The section of FIG. 1 shows, for example, two exiting conduits 9 arranged in communication with the internal chamber 5 through a connection to the lateral surface 6 while the axonometric FIG. 3 shows the connection also with the base 7 of some of the said flow pipes.

Going back to FIG. 1, structurally each exiting conduit has a siphon configuration and comprises an emerging part 9, which rises upwards vertically from the chamber 5 and following, in parallel the conduit 10. An upside-down U curved superior portion realizes a connection with a descending part 9′ that runs in parallel to the emerging part 9. The descending part protracts below the chamber 5, as always shown in FIG. 1, through a portion 9″. To that aim, a first dotted line in correspondence of the chamber 5 in fact highlights such a portion 9″ below the chamber. The overall height of the ascending part 9 is, on the other hand, inferior with respect to the overall height of the conduit 10 (see second subtle dotted line in correspondence of the apex of the conduit 10). In particular, the conduit 10 is such by which the level of liquid that can be contained is able to surpass in height the level occupied by the U union. In such a manner, due to the communicating vessels principle, the re-ascending liquid along the conduit 9 will have sufficient pressure as to surpass the U section when the level of liquid in the conduit 10 is above the U section itself.

Moreover, each exiting conduit 9 is provided with an opening/closing system in such a way as to be able to make the water flow from the containment chamber towards the exterior through the said conduits 9 or, if needed, close the water flux exactly like a tap. FIG. 1 schematizes such systems as a sort of closable cap applicable also in the conduits 10.

Such a configuration with the portion 9″ arranged below the level of the containment chamber is particularly useful in the case of systems wherein the pump is combined with one or more than one rotor electric current generators 30. FIG. 4 in fact shows such a type of system wherein the pump is combined with a series of current generators 30. One or more than one generators 30 can be connected to the pump to feed it electrically.

Alternatively, as better described afterwards, the conduit 9 can be collected simply at any level superior to the chamber 5 itself in such a way as to be able to make the fluid re-ascend with a minimal effort.

In a further configuration of the invention (see FIG. 4) the descending part 9′ of at least one of the conduits 9 can further be provided with an opening or more than one opening 109 for putting in communication the conduit with the external atmosphere P.

In particular, FIG. 4 shows a solution wherein the opening 109 applied on the said descending part includes a portion of pipe 109 for impeding the re-ascent of liquid, even if a simple hole directly obtained on the part 9′ would be realizable.

Such an opening can be placed anywhere along the length of the descending part 9′ of the conduit 9 and in particular, it can be placed along the portion 9″. Such an opening has the surprising technical effect of increasing significantly the downflow of water in exit from the conduit 9 since the action of the atmospheric pressure P acting precisely on such an opening 109 determines a sort of increase in thrust that favours the exit downflow of the fluid. In that sense, therefore, a further significant increase in capacity by using always the same engine 4 is obtained.

In another further variant of the invention (see FIG. 5) the conduit 9′ can bifurcate in its terminal part 9″ or upstream it through an appendix 9″′ that draws the water, exploiting always the communicating vessels principle and increasing the capacity even more.

Such a solution contributes to a further increase in capacity.

Although FIG. 5 shows such a solution in combination with the opening 109, such a solution can be used on its own.

Having structurally described the basic elements of the invention, we now pass onto a description of the functioning.

In an initial phase, the complete filling of the chamber 5 and of the duct 10 is provided, thus realizing one or more than one columns of water 10 above. To that aim, for example, the same drain pump 5 can be used. At the same time, the taps of the exiting conduits 9 result still closed. Once the taps are opened, the column of water 10 above forms with the conduits 9 a mass of communicating vessels through the chamber 5 itself. The column 10, for example 100 metres high in the case of particularly big systems, is much higher with respect to the connection point of the conduits 9 to the containment chamber. In such a manner, due to the communicating vessels principle, the pressure of the column of water 10 above determines a thrust that pushes the water along the conduits 9. The re-ascending liquid along the ducts will tend to arrive at the same level of the liquid present in the columns 10.

In accordance with such a principle, the ducts can, for example, be made to re-ascend up to the level corresponding to the duct 10. In such a manner, it is possible in an efficient way to make the water re-ascend along the duct 9′, carrying it to the desired level. The engine 4 of the pump shall have sufficient dimensions just to be able to maintain constant the level of water in the chamber 5.

In the case of rotor systems as per FIG. 4, these are arranged below the ducts 9 that pipe downwards as described. In particular, it is convenient that the ducts 9 descend below the level of the chamber 5.

In that case, being the part 9″ of the conduit below the containment chamber 5 and therefore at a lower level with respect to the chamber itself, a sort of intake takes place that increases even more the speed of the liquid outlet. In that sense, the water impacts at great speed on the rotors, producing a great quantity of current.

It is clear that the function of the engine is simply that of taking the water to fill the chamber 5. In that sense, it is possible to choose an engine of modest dimensions arranging the containment chamber 5 in proximity of the water surface. The pump always maintains the water level constant in such a way that the chamber and the conduit 10 are always full. In such a manner, the column of water above is responsible for the real thrust that allows the further re-ascending of the liquid. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A pump comprising: a drain path for a liquid; a drain unit configured to realize drainage of the liquid along the path; a containment chamber to contain the drained liquid, and one or more than one exiting conduits in fluid communication with the containment chamber, wherein one or more than one vertical conduits are further provided that develop, from the containment chamber upwards and in fluid communication with the containment chamber, the vertical conduits forming with the exiting conduits, through the containment chamber, one or more than one vessels communicating one with the other in such a way that the liquid drained by the drain unit into the containment chamber is caused to further re-ascend along the exiting conduits towards a level of the liquid containable in the vertical conduits to flow outwardly.
 2. The pump according to claim 1, wherein the exiting conduits are arranged in communication with the containment chamber in such a way as to be oriented upwards from the containment chamber, so that the fluid further re-ascends from the containment chamber to a higher level.
 3. The pump according to claim 1, wherein the exiting conduits comprise: a first part emerging upwards in a substantially parallel manner to the vertical conduit; a second part descending vertically downwards; and a U-shaped union part interposed between the first and the second part.
 4. The pump according to claim 3, wherein the shaped union part is arranged at a lower level with respect to an upper end of the vertical conduit in such a way that the liquid re-ascending the first part has sufficient pressure to surpass the U-shaped union to go down again along the second part.
 5. The pump according to claim 3, wherein the second part comprises a portion arranged at a lower level with respect to the containment chamber.
 6. The pump according to claim 3, wherein the second part comprises an opening for putting in communication the second part with atmospheric pressure.
 7. The pump according to claim 6, wherein the opening is covered with a portion of pipe.
 8. The pump according to one claim 3, wherein the second part further comprises a bifurcation realized through an appendix for drawing water.
 9. The pump according to claim 1, wherein the containment chamber comprises a cylindrical lateral wall, a base, and a superior closing cover.
 10. The pump according to claim 9, wherein the exiting conduits are connected at choice: to the cylindrical lateral wall; to the base; or a part to the cylindrical lateral wall and a part to the base.
 11. The pump according to claim 1, wherein the drain unit comprises a draining engine.
 12. The pump according to claim 11, wherein the engine is electric.
 13. The pump according to claim 1, wherein the drain path comprises one or more than one pipes.
 14. The pump according to claim 13, wherein the pipes extend from the containment chamber vertically downwards.
 15. A system comprising: one or more than one pumps as in claim 1; and one or more than one rotor electrical generators arranged in such a way that the rotor is run by a water flux drained and coming out from the pump.
 16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the electric generators are arranged at a lower level with respect to the pump.
 17. The system according to claim 15, wherein at least one of the generators are electrically connected to the pump and feed the pump. 